There are some things in life that should never mix, pineapple and pizza, baking soda and vinegar, but perhaps more than both of those examples is sport and politics! This last year has emphasised that more than anything, from taking the knee before every single sporting event to the supposedly controversial opinion of male athletes competing in women's sporting events.
As an avid sports fan myself, politics creeping into sports is never a good thing - there is of course that infamous photograph of the Derby County football team on a tour in Germany in 1934, the whole team were ordered to give a Nazi salute, all players abided by that, apart from one player, goalkeeper Jack Kirby who refused. Then of course the Berlin Olympics in 1936 when Jesse Owens claimed Gold 4 times, becoming that games' most successful athlete, crushing Hitler's Aryan race theory which proves sport is above politics and that anyone who chooses to bring politics into sport will be rebutted ferociously, and in the case of 1930s Germany, rightly so. My point is that these two things should be separated, the Nazis tried to politicise sport by banning competitors for their race, religion or anything that didn't fit right with the leadership, but thankfully and inevitably, sport prevailed.
Before lockdown, I was a regular at the football, albeit a Sunderland supporter so take from that what you will! The absolute last thing I want involved in a football match is a political statement and even worse, before every single game, yes of course this is the 'Black Lives Matter' protest, which would never have survived if fans had been allowed in. There are plenty of people suffering as well as other major issues and imported outrage from America to be a permanent fixture before every football, rugby and sporting match is an utter outrage.
I, along with many others were relieved when Millwall fans, when allowed back in the stadium, defied the trend and refused to support their players taking the knee, I was likewise pleased when England's Billy Vunipola and the Welsh, Irish and Scottish national rugby teams refused to partake in this nonsense.
Now, I'm no fan of the Kardashians, to be honest, I couldn't even tell you anything about them or who they are! But, recently one of the family has dominated a certain corner of the sports news and also a certain group of politically correct activists on Twitter. Of course I'm talking about Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce, who is the transgender birth father of the 'Jenners' and 'Kardashians'. Furthermore, Jenner gained fame back in 1976 when he won Gold in decathlon at the Montreal Olympic Games and is now running as the potential Republican candidate for California Governor in the 2021 recall gubernatorial election. Anyway, once put on a pedestal as a beacon of trans rights, he is now being lambasted by that very community for having the perfectly acceptable opinion of not allowing trans people participate in women's sports - that should not be controversial!
I recently had a conversation with a female friend about this topic and although not a sports fan in the truest sense, she is absolutely appalled by sport allowing transgender athletes being able to compete in women's sports. It doesn't take a sports scientist or anyone of a great intellect to work out that men have a natural advantage over most women in sports, especially contact sports. Unfortunately, it isn't just sports that concern my friend. If we look at the bigger picture, the whole gender neutral argument is a flawed one, from men claiming to be gender neutral to use female toilets or changing rooms in gyms and swimming pools is, well, another outrage. We need to take a stand against this and quickly otherwise the woke leftists will end up getting their way, simply because they are the loudest but they certainly aren't in the majority.
Therefore, I genuinely cannot see why people are absolutely hitting the roof with Jenner's comments, which are perfectly reasoned, "This is a question of fairness. That's why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girls' sports in school, it just isn't fair. And we have to protect girls' sports in our schools." The increase in popularity in girls' sports around the world has been phenomenal, from women's football really taking the female game to the next level in recent years to the fantastic female athletes who continue to make their nations proud at each Olympic Games, it is therefore paramount that we protect girls' sports around the globe.
References:
Jesse Owens | Biography, Olympics, Medals, & Facts | Britannica
Why does Billy Vunipola not take the knee before England rugby matches? (thesun.co.uk)
KUWTK: Caitlyn Blasted for Opposing Trans Women in Female Sports (screenrant.com)
Caitlyn Jenner announces bid for California governor - BBC News
